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Month: January 2011

ROB McKENNA PROMOTES GOVERNMENT’S LICENSE TO INFLICT INJURY WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY

ROB McKENNA PROMOTES GOVERNMENT’S LICENSE TO INFLICT INJURY WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY

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Rob McKenna, the republican Attorney General of Washington state has been preparing to run for governor ever since his election to office. His latest media pitch for attention has been to advocate revision of the laws that allow citizens to sue government for their negligence when it causes death or injury. He claims that limiting litigation for government wrong doing would save money and cites examples which he says illustrate frivolous or excessive claims. What's amusing to me is the examples I've seen…

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THE SPARTANS & THE FAMOUS BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE

THE SPARTANS & THE FAMOUS BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE

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The Battle of Thermopylae (pronounced "ther-MOP-i-lee") in 480 BC is perhaps the most famous military last stand of all times. It was an "against all odds" battle which has inspired people over the centuries because of the bravery and determination of the Spartans. Military leaders cite it as an example of training, equipment and use of terrain. It has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. The battle took place in Greece between the Greek army and the army of…

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BASKET BALL COACH WILLIAM H. TAYLOR 3/11/1922 – 1/24/2002

BASKET BALL COACH WILLIAM H. TAYLOR 3/11/1922 – 1/24/2002

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Many of us can point to someone or perhaps several people who played significant roles in our life. People who made the difference or who were a tipping point at a critical time. Perhaps it was someone whose words or actions changed  the direction of our life for the better. For me, after my parents, it is a short list of individuals who had a very significant influence on my life. It includes a third grade teacher, Mrs Marshall, always saw the good in me even in…

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MELTING ICE REVEALS A MYSTERY MORE THEN SIXTY YEARS LATER

MELTING ICE REVEALS A MYSTERY MORE THEN SIXTY YEARS LATER

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The New York Times has an article http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/24/national/24frozen.html about what melting glaciers are revealing around the world. One of these involves a World War II previously unsolved mystery. One Wednesday morning on November 18, 1942 a trained military pilot and three aviation cadets took off from Mather Field, near Sacramento in an AT-7 Navigator on a four hour training flight. 2nd Lt. William Gamber (Ohio) was flying the plane with passengers John M. Mortenson (Moscow, Idaho) Ernest Munn (Ohio) and Leo M. Mustonen (Minnesota) The…

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SOME OLD POETRY FRIENDS

SOME OLD POETRY FRIENDS

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This week I've been on a poetry search for some reason. Reading books of poetry. Some are new, but most are old. I admit that the ones I enjoy the most are not profound and are old friends from many readings ago. My friend from New Jersey, Dennis Donnelly sent me a poetry book with electic poems and I'm trying hard to learn to appreciate them as much as the old standby ones I know so well, but for now,…

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1/11/11

1/11/11

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Today is January 11, 2011 or, more significantly, 1/11/11 and we will have the time as 1/11/11 at 11:11:11. That’s produced a lot of strange interpretations including the prediction it is a sign for the return of aliens in UFO’s or the end of the world. On a more realistic level I see that Papa John’s is offering a second large pizza for 11 cents when you buy one for $11 and a New York hotel is offering a day…

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BOOKS: The Elephant to Hollywood & The Drunkard’s Walk

BOOKS: The Elephant to Hollywood & The Drunkard’s Walk

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I just finished Michael Caine’s latest book The Elephant to Hollywood recently and thought I'd share a couple of passages. The first deals with acting. The advice is directly applicable to trial lawyers like me. Too many lawyers "act like" someone instead of being totally authentic and genuine, but then, so do a lot of other people. Here's what he wrote. As a young actor in rehearsal he was playing the role of a drunk. He says he came "rolling onto…

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THE FAMOUS PHOTO OF THE FLAG RAISING ON IOWA JIMA 1945

THE FAMOUS PHOTO OF THE FLAG RAISING ON IOWA JIMA 1945

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Everyone of my generation recognizes the famous photo of U.S. Marines raising the American flag on Iowa Jima taken in World War II. The photograph was taken by Joe Rosenthal which shows five U.S. Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag during the battle of Iowa Jima. The photo was instantly famous and was reprinted thousands of times. It is probably the most reproduced photograph of all times. It was the only photograph to win the Pulitzer Prize…

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